A street crimes unit operating since mid-March, and racking up several arrests primarily from probation and parole searches, took three Chico residents into custody last weekend on suspicion of selling methamphetamine.

Sgt. Dave Barrow said the four-member team was doing a probation search at a home in the 2100 block of Laurel Street Friday night when 12 grams of methamphetamine, $800 in cash and electronic scales were found.

Arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville were Victor Gaime, 54, and his wife, Maria Gaime, 49. Their high school-aged minor son was turned over to the custody of a relative.

Barrow said the officers seized 21 bindles of meth already packaged for sales.

On Saturday night, a traffic stop on Nord Avenue led to another arrest for meth possession, but was a little harder to accomplish.

Barrow said the suspect, Mark Blankenship, 40, of Chico, ran after officers pulled him over on Nord Avenue. He was captured after a short chase and found to be a parolee at large.

A search of Blankenship’s vehicle turned up 2 ounces of methamphetamine, and another half-ounce was found in his clothing.

Barrow said the street value of the drugs was about $4,000.

The suspect was booked into the county jail for possession of methamphetamine for sales. A no-bail parole hold was placed on the prisoner.

Until recently, the street crimes unit was headed by Sgt. James Fryar. Sgt. Linda Dye has taken over the team and directed operations last weekend.

In the seven months since its formation, Barrow said the unit has made 123 arrests, with 46 of them drug-related. Eight of the arrests have been for weapons violations, and five of those taken into custody have been parolees-at large.

“The goal of the team is to target wanted people,” Barrow said, adding that its completed 97 probation searches and 52 parole searches since March.

Barrow said that even with four officers assigned to the special unit, the department’s patrol division remains fully staffed.